Meng'er Zhang Interview: Shang-Chi

Shang-Chi is, of course, the main focus of Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings, but he wouldn't have made it out of Macau if it weren't for his sister, Xialing, played by Meng'er Zhang. Xialing taught herself how to fight and then later turned that obsession into an empire of her own, with her fighting tournaments being headquartered in China's gambling capital.

Xialing's story is quite interesting, seeing as the way Shang-Chi ends with the post-credits scene, there's potential for her to return as an adversary down the line, should Shang-Chi 2 happen. Even if it doesn't, there must be some way for Zhang to return to the MCU at some point.

Although Zhang was reluctant to share any details about her character's future, she told Screen Rant an amazing personal story about her time working on Shang-Chi.

WARNING: This interview contains spoilers for Shang-Chi.

Xialing looks down in disappointment in Shang-Chi

Screen Rant: At the end of this film, your character is supposed to be dismantling the Ten Rings organization, but obviously that doesn’t happen. She instead takes control of it. So where do you think, or what do you know of your character’s future beyond Shang-Chi?

Meng’er Zhang: I really don’t want to spoil anything for the audience. And to be honest, I don’t know; I have no idea. I cannot wait to find out, too, just like you. I’m excited for whatever is next for her. And I think that’s why audiences have to come to the theaters to see this film themselves and to find out. I don’t want to spoil anything for the audience. It will be a very special journey for everyone to watch this film in the theaters and they will find out everything in the theaters with us together.

Joining a Marvel film can be quite career-changing and even life-changing, as many actors have noted before, so for you, what was the most exciting aspect or the most gratifying part of the experience?

Meng’er Zhang: I was cast single and left married! I met my husband, Yung Lee, on this film; he’s one of the action designers on it. That’s the biggest one. We didn’t prepare anything for our marriage celebration, but the production threw a big party for us to celebrate. And then the next day, Simu [Liu] took us to Disneyland and the next, next day, Awkwafina booked a whole venue for us to celebrate. We had a big karaoke party and everyone was there; everyone sang. The next day, we all lost our voices. It’s really an amazing memory. We were really like a big family.

Wow, I did not know that. That’s incredible.

Meng’er Zhang: Oh yeah.

Would you be excited to return to this franchise and continue to play the character wherever it goes?

Meng’er Zhang: I don’t know. I’m really excited for my character, no matter what’s in front of her. I’m just super lucky to be in this big, loving family. And I think the love really translates on-screen; everyone can feel it.

With this, what do you hope people take away from this film, in response to your character?

Meng’er Zhang: It’s a film about family and love and bond, and everyone can relate to. We have a lot of drama, we have a lot of comedy. We have countless breathtaking action sequences. Everyone will laugh with us and cry with us, and carry this warm feeling in their hearts. I really cannot wait for everyone to see this film.

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